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Should I convert from LP to NG?

A little background info... I am getting ready to replace my HVAC system with a heat pump and 90% propane furnace for backup.

I finally heard back from the natural gas company and since the only NG appliance I will have is the furnace, they are going to charge $500 to run the line and set the meter.

Being that the furnace will only be used in a backup capacity, any guesses on how long it would take to recoup that $500 bucks? Home is in Winston-Salem, NC. I don't know how much propane I have used the past couple of years. I have a 500 gallon tank, and I don't know how much is left from one season to the next, so that makes it hard to know how much I use per season. Past usage won't be of much help now anyway since I will be using the heat pump for the majority of heat. (I hope.)

The current rates are $2.80 per gallon for propane and 1.70 per therm for NG.

Find out if your LP company has a penalty for not using more then X amount of gas ayear.

If you only use say 200 gallons in a year, they may charge you an extra 50 cents or more per gallon.

Good point, I didn't even think about that. I'll have to call them back to find out.

When I contacted the NG company I neglected to inform them that I would be using a heat pump along with the furnace. I figured if they didn't ask, I wouldn't tell them. But I wonder if they might come after me for more than the initial $500 fee if I am not using a certain amount of NG a year?

Of yea, I forgot to mention in my original post, there is a $10 dollar a month charge for the NG, even if you don't use any gas. So that's $120 a year.